From:
                                                                     3:51 PM
Subject: Comtouch Meeting Minutes
1/18/01To: comtouch@media.mit.edu, zahra@media.mit.edu, verplank@media.mit.edu

Hi everyone,
just a reminder that we are meeting briefly today at 5PM to
discuss comtouch implementations again. Below are last weeks
minutes.
Angela
-----------------------
ComTouch Meeting 1/18/01      Summary
www.media.mit.edu/~anjchang/ct11801.txt
www.media.mit.edu/~anjchang/meeting.jpg
Thank you to Bill Verplank, Sile, Rob, Hiroshi, Gian, Zahra
for attending

1.0 Starting point
Basic Goals:
1)Symbolic Language over a remote connection
2)Personal communication tool using vibration and touch

Underlying design needs:
Technology should "Piggyback on cellphone" so that the
communication is easier
Bidirectional
One-handed

Bill pointed out that the new technology should expand and
fill a need.
Needs-> Noisy situations, silence is needed, personal
communication (without the broadcast of audio)

1.1 PRESENTION OF EXPLORATORY FORM FACTORS (thanks to
Zahra):
Pictures at
(http://www.media.mit.edu/~anjchang/COMTOUCH/formfact.htm)
Feedback points:
There is concern that you inadvertently send hand signals
without
meaning to send signals The object is in the way of the
normal
function of the hand, causing unintentional communication

Solution may be that a strap can help because then the user
will not
have to devote abilities to holding.

Many of the form factors only were handheld. It was brought
up that
we might use the mouth's vibration, as in Taddama.

Gian suggested we use a glove, because it allowed the device
not to
be in the way of normal function of the hand.

1.2 PRESENTION OF INPUT/OUTPUT (thanks to Gian):
Current circuit was a simple demonstration of what holding
and
inputing to a vibrating object feels like.

Later Implementation will be on PIC Chip-- using Pulse Width
Modulation (PWM) to control intensity and maybe allow
detection of
discrete levels of vibration

1.3 FLOW CONTROL ISSUES:
We can identify 3 different types of flow controls in
communication
Compose and send (e.g. email is asynchronous) (arbitrator is
time in sending of message through network)
Instant messaging (somewhat asynchronous)  (arbitrator is
the software)
Telephone (realtime, turn-taking is bidirectional)
(arbitrator is signals from the  user)

We are leaning toward a device that allows for:
Overlapping Turn taking
No arbitrator
(Basically, the user can interrupt)

1.4 DISCUSSION ON THE PROTOCOL OF SIMPLE TOUCH
Speed of transmission provides the syntax (pauses,
vibrations per second)
Syntax and Grammar of language by squeeze force/duration of
force
Language issue--what is the user sending, is it encoded and
decoded  by the device, or by the suser

1.4.1 DISCUSSION OF LANGUAGE
Comparison Types of language Serial vs. expressive
Serial-->ABC-->Alphabet
not alphabetic-->ASL-->Concepts
Alphabetic language devices-- Chording keyboards; jog dial
High level languages capable of concepts- finger spelling

Hiroshi suggested we compare devices on a Speed vs. Learning
curve to
delineate a design space of some sort.

1.4.2 Vibration levels
Distinguishable channels-- How many distinguishable channels
can the hand detect?
Perhaps we need more than one degree of freedom?
Hong Z. Tan did work on buzzers/levers/buttons, mentioned by
Bill.
Sile will be in Perdue in February, to talk to Hong.

Ether phone gives one example of discrete audible tone (Bits
per second can be superimposed to construct a concept that
is communicated), mentioned by Rob.

1.5 SCIENTIFIC TESTS PROPOSED BY HIROSHI
1.5.1 Tests of technology-
Does the Flow control work if we capture and send it?
Recorder will allow user to send a message and replay,
compose and send.

1.5.2 Test of Communication flow hypothesis
In order to test our theory that asynchronous communication
can be supported on this device, the ability to support both
replay and continuous real-time is important.

1.6 OTHER TECHNOLOGIES TO LOOK AT:
-Engelbart's chord keyboard encoding was sent to me by Rob
http://www.media.mit.edu/~anjchang/COMTOUCH/chording.txt
-They never built handjive.
-Taddama is an interesting language that uses tactile
feedback and the
vibration of jawbones.
-Maybe look at how headsets work.
-The iFeel mouse by microsoft allows raise and lowered
physical output
depending on what the mouse is over.
-Twiddler - a chording keyboard
-The website Virtex.com demonstrates some virtual reality
technology where gripping is used.
-Taddama - User talks, vibration of the jawbones is output,
finger feels vibration as input method.

1.7 OTHER NOTES AND RANDOM MUSINGS
I got an email from a colleague about the way Japanese teens
have
learned to communicate quickly using cellphones (some might
be so
good as to send email without looking at their cell phones,
by using
tactile input alone (e.g. 3 jogs down is a 'J'))
(http://chronicle.com/free/2001/01/2001011601t.htm),
courtesy of my friend Howard Eglowstein.

--
In later conversation with artist/designer Jay Lee, I
mentioned a
concern that it may seem awkward for a deaf-blind person to
hold a
cellphone to their ears to pretend it is a cell phone.
Jay mentioned that we should really think carefully about
the following:
Design of the user- how would a deaf/blind person use the
device?
Device should identify the user- are we trying to hide the
deaf/blindness of the person?
These questions may be best answered by asking someone who
is deaf-blind.
Sile mentioned that we may be able to have the input of
someone who
can help us understand better the needs of a deaf-blind
person.

--
I realized after the meeting that the difference between
this and
LumiTouch is that we didn't design a feedback mode for the
user, so
that when they press they get some feedback of what they
sent. Maybe
this isn't necesary. Maybe the replay feature will allow one
to give
themself feedback.

1.8 WHERE WE STAND (SUMMARY):
DESIRED NATURALNESS
The device should not:
Obstruct the Normal function of the hand
Avoid inadvertent communication

DESIRED FUNCTIONALITY
The device should:
Support syntax and grammar such that high-level of concepts
are communicated
Allows interruption, is bidirectional and asynchronous
Support capture and replay (this might be implemented later)

ADDITIONAL WISHES
The device could:
Piggyback on existing communication technology as much as
possible
Use the vibration of the jaws
Support alphabetic language, such that specific details are
transmitted

To be presented at NEXT MEETING on Jan 23:
1)Better circuit- Hopefully have a circuit that has engages
more digits
of the hand, and has different levels of vibration.
2)New form factor- We're aiming at a device that has a
strap, which
clamps onto the back of a cell phone.
We'll be meeting on Tuesday, E15-445, at 5PM. Please join us
again,
before Hiroshi leaves for a trip.

Comments? Questions? Clarifcations? email Angela
anjchang@media.mit.edu
anj 1/21/01